Betta Prices

[mewhorse]

Here's a question for anyone out there: what are the average prices you have seen for Bettas and the highest prices you have seen for Bettas? My local Petsmart stores (Edmonton Alberta) charge less than $5CDN per fish...highest I've seen was a Petcetera (sp?) store in Calgary Alberta that was charging $36-$48CDN per male Betta (around $20CDN for females) I shoulda asked why the #*!# they were charging so much - almost choked! They looked like average fish - no special colors or finnage so who knows...local bred maybe? Still insane! Back when I owned a huge tank I bought a baby red tailed catfish & a baby silver arrowana - each cost less than that! (tank & fish are long gone - had to sell when I moved...sigh...I miss Sylvester the catfish...he liked to eat out of my hand..) Would love to hear what people have seen around the globe...what have y'all seen?

 

[Rediahs]

(Canadian dollars) There was a shop selling male halfmoon bettas for over $100, you could buy 3 for $250 though. :\

I bought my first betta for $3 I think.

 

[wodesorel]

I've seen crowntails and deltas and even some plakats for about 4.99 USD around here. No one knows what they're selling or what they're buying, so the prices don't get raised much for "special" bettas. I've never seen one for more than 6 USD.

 

[K.J.]

Hmm, the lowest was $3.00USD at Petsmart.. the highest I can't remember. My lfs sells them for $5.00USD, which is really a bargain because they live pretty long. I got my two current ones there.

 

[Gankutsuou]

yeah. $3 bettas at petsmart. go with $6 and you can get a crown tail.

 

[CatLover]

Around here (eastern Ky) a male veil goes for $3, and a male crown goes for $6. Those are the only two types sold around here. I don't know the female prices because I never look at them.

Now the internet is a different story. If you are looking at buying bettas online (I'm talking fancy finnage, not veil), the cheapest I have seen is $10. The most expensive was about $200.

 

[wendywc]

At the LFSs near me, I've seen VTs for $3-4 and CTs for $5-6.

 

[Lynden]

40 bucks?!

That's crazy!

100 bucks?!!!

That's absolutely outrageous!

200 BUCKS?!!!!

Now that's what one would call... psychotically ridiculous.

They go for around $5 here.

-Lynden

 

[EvilMonkey666]

I have seen them anywhere from 2.99 to 19.99, depending on whether or not its a crowntail.

 

[mewhorse]

So I guess its not just in Alberta! Had no idea that they would ever charge that much! I did buy one onyway though - one of the $36 guys...lived a long time too...have a cute little 1 gallon with filter/light/mini heater so he had the life! Need a new one someday...gotta get the 10 gallon up 1 day too...(bought it used - I actually was just buying a 37 gallon with stand/hood/lights/filter/heater/rocks/wood/gravel/assorted water testing stuff and they included the 10 gallon with some accessories plus a hard cover fish book - new price for book alone was $46CDN - paid $100CDN for all of it! Good deal!

 

[Synirr]

It really depends on the betta when you're talking fair pricing. Some show quality fish are easily worth $40 and up, but most pet shop fish are not from show stock, so they are generally much cheaper. You can get some great deals at betta shows though, especially if the overseas breeders are showing -- they have to auction their fish, because they can't be shipped back. It depends on the breeder, but most will start with a price of $15-20.
EDIT: That's for the commercial breeders, other hobbyists will start bidding much lower, like $5.

 

[Gill]

Most LFS' Range from 3-5GBP

 

[b.c.f.c]

the most ive seen bettas is £5 , i even got a crown tail from this place for £5, other places ive seen vail tails for £3.
but ive never seen them for more than 5.